Limeral 1 mg, 2 mg, 3 mg, 4 mg and 6 mg tablets – glimepiride for type 2 diabetes

Limeral tablets contain glimepiride, a medicine from the sulfonylurea group that lowers blood sugar. Glimepiride works by making the pancreas release more insulin, and insulin then lowers the level of sugar in the blood.

The medicine is used for type 2 diabetes when diet, physical activity and weight reduction alone are not enough. It is available in five strengths – 1 mg, 2 mg, 3 mg, 4 mg and 6 mg – in packs of 30 tablets.

What is Limeral used for and how should it be taken?

Key facts about the medicine

What is Limeral used for?

Limeral is used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus in adults when diet, physical activity and weight reduction alone have not controlled blood sugar adequately. Your doctor may prescribe it alone or in combination with metformin or insulin.

How is Limeral taken and dosed?

Swallow the tablet just before or during the first main meal of the day (usually breakfast) with at least half a glass of water. Do not crush or chew the tablets; they can be divided into equal doses. If you do not have breakfast, take the medicine according to the schedule set by your doctor. It is important not to skip meals.

Your doctor determines the dose based on blood and urine sugar results. Do not change the dose yourself – if the medicine seems too weak or too strong, talk to your doctor. Tell your doctor about changes in body weight, lifestyle or stressful situations, as the dose may need adjusting.

Special patient groups

• Children and adolescents: use under 18 years of age is not recommended.
• Impaired kidney function: severe kidney disease is a contraindication; reduced kidney function increases the risk of hypoglycaemia.
• Impaired liver function: severe liver disease is a contraindication.
• G6PD enzyme deficiency: breakdown of red blood cells (haemolytic anaemia) may occur – tell your doctor.

Contraindications – when the medicine must not be used

• allergy to glimepiride, other sulfonylureas (e.g. glibenclamide), sulfonamides (e.g. sulfamethoxazole) or any of the excipients;
• insulin-dependent diabetes (type 1 diabetes);
• diabetic ketoacidosis;
• diabetic coma;
• severe kidney disease;
• severe liver disease.

Warnings and precautions

• recovery from an injury, operation, infection with fever or other forms of stress – your doctor may temporarily change your treatment;
• factors increasing the risk of hypoglycaemia: irregular or skipped meals, fasting, changes in diet, alcohol, increased physical activity without enough carbohydrates, reduced kidney function, severe liver disease, thyroid, pituitary or adrenal disorders;
• regular blood and urine sugar checks are needed; your doctor may also order blood count and liver function tests;
• the medicine contains lactose – tell your doctor if you are intolerant to some sugars.

Interactions with other medicines, food and drink

• May increase the effect and the risk of hypoglycaemia: insulin, metformin and other diabetes medicines; phenylbutazone, azapropazone, oxyphenbutazone and aspirin-like medicines; long-acting sulfonamides; tetracyclines, chloramphenicol, fluconazole, miconazole, quinolones, clarithromycin; coumarin anticoagulants (warfarin); anabolic steroids and male sex hormones; fluoxetine and MAO inhibitors; fibrates; ACE inhibitors; disopyramide; allopurinol, probenecid, sulfinpyrazone; cyclophosphamide, trofosfamide, ifosfamide; fenfluramine; high-dose intravenous pentoxifylline; tritoqualine; sympatholytics.
• May weaken the effect (high blood sugar): oestrogens and progestogens, thiazide diuretics, levothyroxine, glucocorticoids, chlorpromazine and other phenothiazines, adrenaline and sympathomimetics, nicotinic acid, long-term laxative use, phenytoin, barbiturates, acetazolamide, diazoxide, rifampicin, glucagon.
• May either increase or weaken the effect: H2 antagonists (ulcer medicines), beta-blockers, clonidine, guanethidine and reserpine – these may also mask the signs of hypoglycaemia.
• Limeral may increase or weaken the effect of warfarin.
• Colesevelam: take Limeral at least 4 hours before colesevelam.
• Alcohol may unpredictably increase or decrease the effect of the medicine.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

Pregnancy: Limeral should not be taken during pregnancy. If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are planning a pregnancy, talk to your doctor.

Breast-feeding: the medicine may pass into breast milk and should not be taken while breast-feeding.

Driving and using machines

Your ability to concentrate and react may be reduced if your blood sugar is low or high, or if visual disturbances occur. Ask your doctor whether you may drive if you have frequent episodes of hypoglycaemia or few or no warning signs of hypoglycaemia.

Possible side effects

Rare (up to 1 in 1,000): hypoglycaemia; reduced numbers of platelets, white or red blood cells; weight gain; hair loss; altered taste.

Very rare (up to 1 in 10,000): allergic reactions with inflammation of blood vessels that may progress to serious reactions (breathing difficulty, drop in blood pressure, shock); liver disorders (jaundice, cholestasis, hepatitis); nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, feeling of fullness, abdominal pain; low blood sodium.

Not known: itching, rash, hives and increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight; allergy to related medicines (sulfonylureas, sulfonamides); temporary visual disturbances at the start of treatment; raised liver enzymes; unusual bleeding under the skin or bruising.

Signs of hypoglycaemia: intense hunger, headache, nausea, tiredness, sleepiness, restlessness, poor concentration, confusion, speech and vision disturbances, trembling, sweating, cold clammy skin, fast heartbeat. Most symptoms disappear quickly after taking sugar (sugar cube, sweet juice, sweetened tea) – artificial sweeteners do not help.

Overdose, missed dose and stopping treatment

• Overdose: there is a risk of hypoglycaemia – take enough sugar immediately (sugar cubes, juice, sweetened tea) and inform a doctor. An unconscious person must not be given food or drink; severe hypoglycaemia requires emergency medical help. Show the doctor the medicine pack.
• Missed dose: do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
• Stopping treatment: if you stop taking the medicine, your blood sugar will rise again; continue treatment until your doctor tells you otherwise.

Related information

For additional care and support with diabetes, see also the category Blood glucose meters – products in this category do not replace the medicine you have been prescribed.

Composition, pack and manufacturer

• Active substance: glimepiride – 1 mg, 2 mg, 3 mg, 4 mg or 6 mg per tablet.
• Excipients: lactose monohydrate; microcrystalline cellulose; povidone; sodium starch glycolate; magnesium stearate; a pigment blend with lactose and colourings (1 mg – red iron oxide; 2 mg – yellow iron oxide, tartrazine E102, Brilliant Blue E133, Sunset Yellow E110; 3 mg – yellow iron oxide; 4 mg – indigo carmine E132; 6 mg – yellow and red iron oxide).
• Appearance: flat oblong tablets marked “G” with a score line; 1 mg pink, 2 mg green, 3 mg yellow, 4 mg blue, 6 mg orange.
• Pack: 2 blisters of 15 tablets (30 tablets).
• Marketing authorisation holder: Actavis d.o.o. Beograd; manufacturers according to the licence: Zdravlje AD Leskovac and Actavis Ltd, Malta.

Storage

• Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
• Store below 25 °C in the original package to protect from light and moisture.
• Do not use after the expiry date.
• Return unused medicine to a pharmacy that collects unused medicines.

Frequently asked questions

When should Limeral be taken – before or after food?

Just before or during the first main meal of the day, usually breakfast. Do not skip a meal after taking the tablet, as this increases the risk of low blood sugar.

What should I do if my blood sugar drops while taking Limeral?

Take sugar immediately – a sugar cube, sweet juice or sweetened tea (not artificial sweeteners). If the symptoms do not improve or come back, contact a doctor or go to hospital.

Can I break a Limeral tablet?

Yes – according to the leaflet, the tablets have a score line and can be divided into equal doses. They must not be crushed or chewed.

Can I drink alcohol while taking Limeral?

Alcohol may unpredictably increase or weaken the effect of the medicine on blood sugar and raises the risk of hypoglycaemia, especially with skipped meals. Ask your doctor.

Sources

• ALIMS – Package leaflet Limeral® 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 mg (PIL, 1 mg licence)
• ALIMS – Summary of product characteristics Limeral® (SmPC)
• ALIMS – Package leaflet Limeral® (2 mg licence)

Date sources were checked: 25.10.2026.